New signings to be announced #nextweek

[Holmsey]

Hoppa is 25, Kelly may be a success story but as I said, he really blew his chances. If we are thinking premiership, especially in the coming years we'd go with hoppa for good defence all over the park, and for his ability to connect players around him with opportunities. He wasn't playing the role of a player with flair at the dogs, and i think if he came to manly he'd be able to find a balance between flair (aka pretty work) and a team player (gritty defence, support, ball-handling).

May have said this before but let's agree to disagree on this one

Agree to Disagree

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

It is absolutely absurd to suggest Hopoate is a poor player, he hasn't kicked onto the superstar level his potential suggested prior to taking a couple of years off, but he is still a very good player

Players are a good judge of the quality of fellow players, and the comp as a whole voted Hopoate into the top 23 in the entire comp this season

 

[Holmsey]

It is absolutely absurd to suggest Hopoate is a poor player, he hasn't kicked onto the superstar level his potential suggested prior to taking a couple of years off, but he is still a very good player

Players are a good judge of the quality of fellow players, and the comp as a whole voted Hopoate into the top 23 in the entire comp this season

There are better players we can sign over him and cheaper players.

 

[MadMarcus]

Hoppa is a good player who could have been great but won't be because of the decisions he made. He's a slightly better than average first grader now. I don't care too much if we sign him or not.

I've seen enough potential in Kelly to think we should give him more time. His defensive reads are a real problem but I wouldn't crusify him for it given the potential he has shown in attack. If he can fix his defence up he could be anything. If not, he won't last in the NRL long. 2018 will be a make or break year for Kelly. I'm hoping he makes it.

 

[double hoops]

Watching Matai when he first started in NRL from Ippy puts things in perspective. Kelly went from 20's to NRL and showed enough. In 2 years time if he hasn't progressed is a different story. He will be better then good.

 

[NLSeaEagle]

Hoppa is 25, Kelly may be a success story but as I said, he really blew his chances. If we are thinking premiership, especially in the coming years we'd go with hoppa for good defence all over the park, and for his ability to connect players around him with opportunities. He wasn't playing the role of a player with flair at the dogs, and i think if he came to manly he'd be able to find a balance between flair (aka pretty work) and a team player (gritty defence, support, ball-handling).

May have said this before but let's agree to disagree on this one

Very benevolent of you Harry.....................it's difficult to let something go when the other person is just so wrong!!

Hoppa would be a great addition to the team!
He is positionally versatile and is yards better than Kelly

At 25 I would argue his potential clearly surpasses Kellys even though Kelly is younger.
We already know that Hoppa can play at a very high level................so a coach, team and environment that perhaps can bring the best back out of him ....................versus Kelly, a guy we sit here with our fingers crossed about (but who has already shown some massive limitations and flaws in his game)

 

[Deleted member 26876]

Watching Matai when he first started in NRL from Ippy puts things in perspective. Kelly went from 20's to NRL and showed enough. In 2 years time if he hasn't progressed is a different story. He will be better then good.

I understand this view completely, and know that Kelly may end up a Matai. But in reality, this scenario may not play out the same, there is risk in putting all our faith in Kelly 'turning out like Matai'. I am okay if we roll the dice and give him that faith, although if we can get Will Hopoate and keep Kelly for an extra year at least, Kelly will still get his opportunities to prove his worth. If he's good enough he'll find a place in the side regardless, and may find himself in the side due to injuries such as Walker's as well. Do we risk it for the biscuit?

Personally, i'd bring Hoppa over (if that's a legit chance), keep Kelly for a year, see how he goes and re-evaluate at the end of the season. He doesn't need first grade to show people how good he can be, it's up to him (and his ability) as to whether he takes that chance.

 

[Rynostradamus]

According to the Lurker Brad Arthur and the Eels are ready to have a real crack at Cronk’s signature. It is apparent that the media are comfortable that some teams have no cap. So Norman Moses and now Cronk as well from a club who were over one million above the cap 12 months ago. Wow.

Um they released goat hasson eels now have room for cronk

 

[Rynostradamus]

Hoppa Jr is a premiership player defo bring him home. Kelly and Parker are low $ young players with plenty of potential who can both fill centre or wing and great depth.

I like the idea of the a squad built around turbo hoppers for the next 10 years as the young stars of the same name join their older brothers in the team.

 

[Holmsey]

@NLSeaEagle

Why so much anger? I havent done anything to you and I dont have anything against you. Can you please move on man, no need for grudges based on an opinion.

 

[damiennp90]

Very benevolent of you Harry.....................it's difficult to let something go when the other person is just so wrong!!

Hoppa would be a great addition to the team!
He is positionally versatile and is yards better than Kelly

At 25 I would argue his potential clearly surpasses Kellys even though Kelly is younger.
We already know that Hoppa can play at a very high level................so a coach, team and environment that perhaps can bring the best back out of him ....................versus Kelly, a guy we sit here with our fingers crossed about (but who has already shown some massive limitations and flaws in his game)

I agree. If he comes here at around the same price as Kelly. Which he won't.

He's certainly better then Kelly. But he's no superstar.

Ps we all watch heaps of Manly games on here. No point bagging people who have a different opinion. Especially young committed and passionate ones.

 

[The '47ers]

But in reality, this scenario may not play out the same, there is risk in putting all our faith in Kelly 'turning out like Matai'.

Now sing with me: "There's only one Steve Matai!!"

 

[double hoops]

Um they released goat hasson eels now have room for cronk

Expect as much. What those in NRL HQ don't realise. This does nothing but tarnishes the game and the perception of those apparently in control. When a punter hears the Roosters and now Eels are the teams with a spare mill and that's a mill inside the cap. Why should we even bother supporting our team and buy a membership. The game is being mismanaged to it death.

It really needs change at the top.

 

[Bearfax]

Still I read the knocking against Kelly. Firstly he is not slow. He's actually a lot faster than many on this site give him credit. Tom T and Walker would beat him, but no one else in Manly firsts. He was recognised as quick and a future blues player when he was playing 20s. And he has the genes being cousin to Albert Kelly and James Roberts.

Many seem to overlook the fact that Manly had probably the most successful backline in the '17 premiership. We were let down by being a few forwards short of top quality. Kelly is easily faster than Hopoate. His defence was a little erratic but it wasnt through lack of trying. He tackled well but being normally a winger, he found positioning himself a little problematic at this stage just as Walker found 5/8 difficult with positioning. But there are those on this site judging him against established first grade and rep footballers with years of experience. He's a kid with loads of potential but he needs development. And I think he'll may even be potentially better than both Hopoate and Roberts. Stuff him around and we lose a top talent.

 

[Deleted member 26876]

Still I read the knocking against Kelly. Firstly he is not slow. He's actually a lot faster than many on this site give him credit. Tom T and Walker would beat him, but no one else in Manly firsts. He was recognised as quick and a future blues player when he was playing 20s. And he has the genes being cousin to Albert Kelly and James Roberts.

Many seem to overlook the fact that Manly had probably the most successful backline in the '17 premiership. We were let down by being a few forwards short of top quality. Kelly is easily faster than Hopoate. His defence was a little erratic but it wasnt through lack of trying. He tackled well but being normally a winger, he found positioning himself a little problematic at this stage just as Walker found 5/8 difficult with positioning. But there are those on this site judging him against established first grade and rep footballers with years of experience. He's a kid with loads of potential but he needs development. And I think he'll may even be potentially better than both Hopoate and Roberts. Stuff him around and we lose a top talent.

For mine it's his defence that's the main issue. It doesn't come natural to him, with him often back peddaling which causes players around him to do such. He has speed for sure, and footwork. However, his ball handling can certainly improve plenty, with many games lost due to his crucial errors (eg lost ball against storm, didn't pass against panthers)

All these things are probably fixable with experience, although some of these flaws will linger for a long time. He may be offput by the signing of Hoppa (if we're genuinely interested), although he didn't earn the trust to land him that spot perminantly

I'm mixed, just feel we're a stronger side in 2018 with Hoppa in it, and I don't see why in the long term Kelly can't earn his way back into the side. He'd be used plenty for injury cover in 2018

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Really pleased we've changed the thread title to #nextweek as I think very soon that will be trending on Twitter, well maybe not very soon perhaps next week!

 

[brad]

For mine it's his defence that's the main issue. It doesn't come natural to him, with him often back peddaling which causes players around him to do such. He has speed for sure, and footwork. However, his ball handling can certainly improve plenty, with many games lost due to his crucial errors (eg lost ball against storm, didn't pass against panthers)

All these things are probably fixable with experience, although some of these flaws will linger for a long time. He may be offput by the signing of Hoppa (if we're genuinely interested), although he didn't earn the trust to land him that spot perminantly

I'm mixed, just feel we're a stronger side in 2018 with Hoppa in it, and I don't see why in the long term Kelly can't earn his way back into the side. He'd be used plenty for injury cover in 2018

Agree , kelly looked alot more comfortable moving up in the line and hitting in defence then sitting back waiting. When we had the drive everyone seemed to be in sequence, sadly it dropped off abit and thats when our defence was found out on the back foot.

 

[NLSeaEagle]

Still I read the knocking against Kelly. Firstly he is not slow. He's actually a lot faster than many on this site give him credit. Tom T and Walker would beat him, but no one else in Manly firsts. He was recognised as quick and a future blues player when he was playing 20s. And he has the genes being cousin to Albert Kelly and James Roberts.

Many seem to overlook the fact that Manly had probably the most successful backline in the '17 premiership. We were let down by being a few forwards short of top quality. Kelly is easily faster than Hopoate. His defence was a little erratic but it wasnt through lack of trying. He tackled well but being normally a winger, he found positioning himself a little problematic at this stage just as Walker found 5/8 difficult with positioning. But there are those on this site judging him against established first grade and rep footballers with years of experience. He's a kid with loads of potential but he needs development. And I think he'll may even be potentially better than both Hopoate and Roberts. Stuff him around and we lose a top talent.

Basically you have summarised the problem at Manly by trying to defend Kelly!!
If Kelly is 3rd fastest then we are just bloody slow...............

Wheres the evidence that he is "easily faster than Hopoate"!
That's just crap.

And lets not judge him against "established first grade and rep footballers", let's judge him against all the other young blokes running around which are quids in better (e.g. nick cotric, latrell mitchell, moses suli, etc etc etc)

I'd take anyone of them over Kelly in a heartbeat.

 

[Bearfax]

You obviously havent read the comments made by various 'experts' (and yes I also use the term loosely) who described Kelly coming through grade as quick. He was the outstanding winger in U20s 2 years ago and scored a lot of tries. TT and Walker are hardly slow coaches

 

[maxta]

Still I read the knocking against Kelly. Firstly he is not slow. He's actually a lot faster than many on this site give him credit. Tom T and Walker would beat him, but no one else in Manly firsts. He was recognised as quick and a future blues player when he was playing 20s. And he has the genes being cousin to Albert Kelly and James Roberts.

Many seem to overlook the fact that Manly had probably the most successful backline in the '17 premiership. We were let down by being a few forwards short of top quality. Kelly is easily faster than Hopoate. His defence was a little erratic but it wasnt through lack of trying. He tackled well but being normally a winger, he found positioning himself a little problematic at this stage just as Walker found 5/8 difficult with positioning. But there are those on this site judging him against established first grade and rep footballers with years of experience. He's a kid with loads of potential but he needs development. And I think he'll may even be potentially better than both Hopoate and Roberts. Stuff him around and we lose a top talent.

Pretty fair comments apart from his speed....cops plenty of unfair criticism like most rookies where ppl look for kinks in the armour.
Personally seen plenty of poor inside defence - that put him in poor defensive situations many centres would have missed.
In actual fact, the deserved centre of the year Dylan Walker has a higher missed tackle ratio than Kelly.
I think Kelly has flashy speed over 10m and great footwork, but not genuine speed in the open.
As you mentioned both Turbo and Walker have him easily and I will add DCE would be clearly faster, as would Uate.....